Charles Page looked away, his gaze calm and indifferent as he stared at his own empty pant legs.

Chapter 9: Scores

　　The confusion on Emma Bennett's face was too obvious, and Ms. Evans was taken aback. She had originally planned to ask Emma Bennett about her preference that morning, but first, little Emma Bennett's home was far away, so she always arrived just before class. Second, the normal instinctive reaction was that sitting with Grace Ford was always better than sitting with Charles Page.

　　Charles Page had drawn a "boundary line" and didn't talk to Emma Bennett either. Out of a desire to protect Emma Bennett, it made sense to let her sit with Grace Ford. With that in mind, Mr. Evans simply made the announcement after class.

　　Emma Bennett glanced at the indifferent Charles Page. Her thinking wasn't mature; although she was reluctant, little Emma Bennett had always been an obedient child who listened to the teacher.

　　She rubbed her eyes with her small hand, packed her textbook and water bottle into her backpack, and tidied up her things. Charles Page didn't even look at her, just stared at the pictures in his Chinese textbook.

　　Emma Bennett was afraid he would feel lonely. After thinking it over and over, she took the little panda off her backpack.

　　Her soft cheek nuzzled it reluctantly, then she placed it on Charles Page's desk.

　　Charles Page's gaze shifted from the book to the panda. The little panda was round and sat dumbly in front of his desk.

　　He knew she really liked this toy. Sometimes during class, she would absentmindedly tug at the panda's ear, and every day before coming to school, she would settle the panda first.

　　He finally looked up at her. She looked so reluctant, with such a pitiful expression—he couldn't tell if she was more attached to him or to the little panda.

　　Wordlessly, he pushed her beloved panda back to her.

　　What she couldn't bear to part with was, most likely, not him.

　　Emma Bennett hugged the little panda sadly. He didn't like her, nor did he like her toy.

　　Emma Bennett slung her backpack on and walked toward Grace Ford. Grace Ford gave her a proud glance, then turned to talk to the student behind her.

　　Five-year-old Charles Page had to use all his willpower not to turn and look at her receding figure.

　　Emma Bennett sat where the sunlight was dazzling, golden rays gently crowning her little head. He was on the opposite side, in a place the sunlight couldn't reach, putting the bamboo dragonfly into his backpack.

　　～

　　The children who had been watching the commotion quickly forgot about the seat change.

　　Emma Bennett and Grace Ford became desk mates.

　　If Emma Bennett had her high school memories, she would definitely have found it awkward and strange. Fortunately, with a child's mindset, she thought pretty Grace was also very cute.

　　Throughout the whole autumn, the first thing Emma Bennett learned was to control how much water she drank, because Grace Ford would not, like Charles Page, share her water with her.

　　Grace Ford was especially competitive. If Emma Bennett's hair was nicely done, her own face would look sour all day, and she would subconsciously tidy her own princess dress. After all, she was still a child. Although the ideas her mother instilled in her were firmly remembered, she wasn't truly hostile toward Emma Bennett.

　　After all, little Emma Bennett wasn't as slender and delicate as she was, and Emma Bennett was easy to push around.

　　She could make little Emma Bennett take out the trash, or have Emma Bennett bring homework to the group leader with her. Little Emma Bennett was obedient and well-behaved.

　　Charles Page saw all this, and his expression was very unpleasant.

　　But this was the path he had chosen—Emma Bennett was no longer his desk mate.

　　After autumn ended, the weather turned cold. Emma Bennett was dressed up by Lillian Clark to look like a lucky doll—a bright red cotton jacket, thick and festive.

　　The jacket wasn't new; Lillian Clark had made it from old clothes. Though it was tacky, it was very warm. Under the red jacket, there was an undershirt and two sweaters, and little Emma Bennett's short legs were wrapped up thickly too.

　　Just then, Susan Clark came downstairs holding Grace Ford for a visit. Emma Bennett called out in her childish voice, “Aunt Susan, Grace.”

　　Susan Clark almost burst out laughing. “Lillian, from a distance I thought Emma was a fireball.”

　　At these words, Lillian Clark instinctively looked at Grace Ford. The little girl was dressed delicately and prettily, with a brand-new pink cotton jacket and a matching pink scarf—stylish and not bulky. Grace Ford nestled in Susan Clark's arms, and Susan Clark let her be.

　　Lillian Clark rolled her eyes inwardly. In such cold weather, who cares about looking good? Staying warm is what matters. Outwardly, she made polite conversation: “Wow, Grace's outfit must have cost a bit.”

　　“The jacket was over thirty yuan, and the scarf was a gift from her aunt.”

　　Over thirty yuan was enough to make Lillian Clark, who had no money, fall silent. Susan Clark's eyes were full of satisfaction.

　　On the way home, Grace Ford said, “Dad said the jacket was twenty-six yuan.”

　　Susan Clark shot her daughter a look. “If Mom says it's thirty, then it's thirty. Your finals are coming up, right? You have to do well, understand? If you do well, Mom will reward you.” Spending over thirty on a jacket hurt her too, but when she thought about comparing grades with the other family after finals, Susan Clark felt happy.

　　For the sake of a "reward," Grace Ford nodded eagerly like a pecking chick.

　　That winter, the children had their first final exams, and even Lillian Clark was a bit nervous. She worried that sending Emma Bennett to preschool early might have been a mistake. Looking at little Emma Bennett's innocent face, Lillian Clark sighed. Oh well, grades aren't important—having a healthy, safe child is the greatest blessing.

　　On the day of the final exam, Emma Bennett was sent to school early by Lillian Clark.

　　The preschool exam wasn't like elementary school, where seats were rearranged; everyone sat in their usual spots.

　　Emma Bennett wasn't nervous at all—her knowledge was at a third-grade level.